Several representatives from Apple came to campus on Sept. 26 to take photos of students using their mobile learning devices. The photos were later published in the Apple Keynote Address.
George Saltsman, executive director of the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, said the representatives, along with a photographer from New York City, took staged and environmental photos of students using iPhones and iPads.
Saltsman said he set up the photo shoot for Apple at the representative’s request, but did not know they would use it for the Keynote Address.
“We learned later, as we saw the photo of ACU students in the Apple Keynote Address, that must have been what it was for,” Saltsman said.
Saltsman said the representatives visited Dr. Rodney Ashlock’s Message of the Old Testament class. They also visited the 1 p.m. Cornerstone class. Several staged photos were taken between 10 and 11 a.m. The environmental photos were taken in the afternoon.
Michel Braswell, a freshman psychology major from Hutto, was featured in one of the staged photos.
“I was sitting in the back of the room and the photographer asked me to move to the front,” she said.
Braswell said the photographer asked her to pose several different ways while holding an iPad. She found out that her photo had been used in the Keynote Address after a friend posted the picture on her Facebook wall.
“I was really excited, but nervous at the same time,” she said.
Braswell said seeing the picture also made her a little sad because of the recent death of Steve Jobs.
Abigail Talley, sophomore pre-med major from Tanga, Tanzania, was in Dr. Ashlock’s class when the Apple representatives visited.
“There were iPads on each of the tables for everyone to have,” Talley said. “And we just continued with class, but throughout class they were taking pictures and videoing us using the iPads as the teacher taught class.”
Talley said she believes that iPads, when used properly, can be a useful contribution to the learning environment. However, they also provide a distraction.
“I think lots of times it just makes it easier for students to not pay attention and play around on them instead of actually taking notes and paying attention to what the teacher is saying,” Talley said.
Ashlock, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry, was not present when the representatives came to his class. However, he said he believes everything everything went as smoothly as possible.
“It was a chance for ACU to demonstrate our commitment to using technology in the classroom,” Ashlock said. “I think it strengthened the relationship between Apple and ACU, which I think is a good relationship to keep and maintain for the future of the university and our students.”
